MORE VOICES FROM TECH: TRUMP ‘ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY’
A couple of tech figures are joining the chorus of voices speaking out against Donald Trump, with one of them comparing the presumed GOP presidential nominee to Hitler.
Trump’s relationship with the tech industry is again in the spotlight as one of the world’s most famous and valuable companies declined to support the GOP convention — and its CEO, Tim Cook, was reported to be planning a fundraiser for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, a critic/reluctant supporter of the presumed GOP presidential nominee.
Sam Altman, president of startup incubator Y Combinator, likened Trump to Adolf Hitler in a blog post Monday, citing the candidate’s propensity for inciting “hatred of outsiders.”
To anyone familiar with the history of Germany in the 1930s, it’s chilling to watch Trump in action. Though I know intellectually it’s easy in hard economic times to rile people up with a hatred of outsiders, it’s still surprising to watch this happen right in front of us.
Altman said he agreed with some of the things Trump has identified as problems, such as the economy not growing quickly enough and too much political correctness. “But Trump is wrong about the more important part: how to fix these problems. Many of his proposals, such as they are, are so wrong they’re difficult to even respond to,” Altman wrote.
A new Moody’s analysis released Monday said Trump’s economic proposals would drive the country into a recession.
Altman also explained why he felt it was
important to speak out:
“I take some risk by writing this (even though I’ve supported some Republicans in the past), and I’ll feel bad if I end up hurting Y Combinator by doing so. I understand why other people in the technology industry aren’t saying much. In an ordinary election it’s reasonable for people in the business world to remain publicly neutral. But this is not an ordinary election.”
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, on Monday reportedly referred to Trump as being “on the wrong side of history.”
As we’ve reported on SiliconBeat, other tech industry executives who have criticized Trump directly or indirectly include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, HP Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
The disdain has been mutual. Trump and his campaign have slammed Zuckerberg on immigration; accused Bezos of avoiding taxes, among other things; and vowed to “get Apple to build their damn computers in this country.” — Levi Sumagaysay
APPLE, MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTEDLY DUPED
Apple has reportedly removed from its online store a deceptive app that was supposed to enlist the world in finding refugee ships at sea so migrants could be saved from drowning.
And if reports casting doubt on the veracity of “I Sea” are accurate, Apple wasn’t the only victim to be duped: The app received glowing coverage in major news outlets around the world.
“Crowdsourcing the search for migrants could save thousands of lives, and using I Sea to pitch in on the effort feels like a lot more active a way to help than sending donations,” a story in The Boston Globe said Friday, noting that on the “con” side the app required users to provide their passport numbers.
The app purportedly assigns users a section of open sea to observe, so they can tap a location where a migrant ship appears. Notice would then be sent to a rescue group.
But Sunday night, doubts began to arise. The Daily Dot reached out to critics. “The app promises to show real-time images of an area of the Mediterranean Sea totaling 2.5 million square kilometers. In fact, the app uses static images from 2015 that are no help to refugees today,” the news site’s report said.
The app’s author was listed as a digital advertising firm, and the app was reportedly nominated for an advertising award, fueling speculation that I Sea is a publicity stunt.